Show-case



(No Model.) 28heets-Sheet 1.

F. X. GANTER. SHOW CASE.

No. 394,481. Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

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(No Model. 2 Sheets Sheet 2.

F. X. GANTER.

SHOW CASE. No. 394,481. Patented Dec. 11, 1888.

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ATTORNEY BY CAM/3 N. PETERS. Phoiwulhographr, Washington. 010.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS X. GANTER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SHOW-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,481, dated December11, 1888.

Application filed April 28, 1888. Serial No. 272,182. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern- Be it known that I, FRANCIS X. GANTER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Bal-,

timore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Show-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My invent-ion relates to an improved showcase, such as is used for thedisplay of goods in stores, and is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective front view of theshow-case. Fig. 2 is a perspective view on a large scale of one drawerand tray detached from the case. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of theshow-case, showing one drawer and a tray partly drawn out. Fig. 4 is across-section showing one drawer alone partly drawn out. In thisinstance the tray, which is movable by and with the drawer, is shown asremaining at the front position. Fig. 5 is a view of part of theshow-case, and shows at the left side a partial front view and at theright a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is aperspective view of one drawer without its tray.

The letter A designates the show-case, comprising the bottom I),moldingframe 0, and glass panel d. In the present instance the case isrepresented as long enough to require two cross-partitions, E, therebydividing it into three compartments. A vertical wall, E, of same size asthe partitions, is at each end of the case inside of the glass endpanel. The cross-partitions and end walls are proy'ided with horizontalcleats or strips f for the drawers G to slide 011, and also with shortercleats or strips, 72, for the trays I to set upon. The front ends of thetray-strips are beveled downward. The front sides and ends of thedrawers are cut away at the top, as at j, and are not as high as therear parts of the sides and the back 70. A detachable tray, I, restsupon the said cut-away or low front part,j, of each drawer G, and as thetray is shallow it will readily occupy said position and not projectabove the highest part of the side walls and back, is, of the drawer.The strips It should be a little higher than the top edge of the drawercut-away j. As plainly shown, with the tray seated 011 its low frontpart it will pass in and out of the case A. The trays are for thedisplay of small goods-such as jewelry, fancy articles, cutlery, andother goods which are desirable to be protected by a casewhile thedrawers are for storage of goods.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby thedisplay-trays I may be supported in a forward and conspicuous positionin the show-case, while the storage-.

drawers G occupy the space below and behind the trays, and to so combineand connect these parts that the drawers will serve to place the traysin position to permit the withdrawal of the drawers without removing thetrays from their forward position, and to remove the trays when desiredby simply pulling out the drawers.

In the present instance the display-trays are made in two sections, o a,which are jointed or hinged together at the bottom. By this constructionone section, a, may have a horizontal position on top of the low part j,ot' the drawer, and the 'other section, a, may tilt down and have avertical or inclined position down the front end, It, of the drawer,thus utilizing all possible space for the display of goods. \Yhile thetwo-section trayand its arrangement on the drawer, as described, is verydesirable, it is obvious my invention is not limited thereto, as thetray may be made in one section only.

The two outer sides of each d awer are provided with a horizontal grooveor gain, h, along the top edge of the cut-away or low front part. Whenthe drawer is in position within the case, this side groove or gain, h,receives the short strip 71, which is on the crosspartition, and which,being higher than the edge of the drawer cut-away will retain andsupport the tray I whenever the drawer is pulled out without the tray,as shown in the middle drawer of Fig. 4. The said horizontal groove orgain 71 may be on the sides of the drawers, as stated, or on the sidesof the trays, or partly on the drawer and partly on the tray, as shown.

I provide the drawer with a suitable hook, Z, or other connectingdevice, whereby the tray may be coupled to the drawer Whenever it isdesired to remove the tray from its position on the strips h. Bybringing the couplinghook into position so it will couple with the.tray, as shown in the middledrawer of Fig.

3, the tray may be removed by pulling out the drawer.

The construction of the coupling-hook device may vary; but in thepresent instance it comprises two hook-levers, I, one pivoted closeto'the inner surface of each two sides of the drawer., A horizontal rodor shaft, m, extends across the drawerfrom side to side, and the twohook-levers Z are made fast to this rod. The rod is capable of rockinglike a rockshaft, and thereby the said hooks l may be moved upward toengage with lugs n on the bottom of the tray or with holes or sockets inthe bottom of the tray, as may be preferred. One of the hook-levers hasthe shape of a bellcrank, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, and a wire or.

rod, 0, is attached to one arm of said bellcrank and extends along theside of the drawer to and through the back end,.7c, thereof, on theoutside of which it has a small head, and on the inner side has a smallcollar, 19.

I A spring, q, is made fast by one end to the drawer back It, and itsfree end bears on the said collar on the rod 0. The'spring normallykeeps the rod-head 0 projected. By pressing on the rod-head 0' thehook-lever Zwill couple with the tray 1, and then .by pulling thedrawer-pull 1" both the drawer and tray may be removed from the case.

It will be understood the combination here shown of drawers and traysmaybe used in a show-case without regard to the number of verticalcross-walls E that are used. Small show-cases having only two 1 suchwalls may be used.

In the present instance three tiers of drawers and trays are shown; butthe number is immaterial. Any number from one drawer upward may be used.It will be observed the lower drawer is supported and slides on thebottom I) of the show -case, and no supportingstrips f are required.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. In a show-case, thecombination of vertical cross-walls provided with horizontaltraysupporting strips h, a drawer, G, having the top edges of its frontend and sides cut away lower than the said tray-strips, and a shallowdetachable tray, I, resting upon the top edge of said cut-away drawerfront, whereby the drawer, with the tray seated on its cut away frontmay readily pass into the show-case, and upon the drawer being pulledout leave the tray at its forward position in the showcase supported onthe said strips.

2. In a show-case, the combination of vertical cross-walls provided withhorizontal traysupporting strips h, a drawer, G, having the top edges ofits front end and sides cut-away lower than the said tray-strips, and ashallow detachable tray, 1, made in two sections, a a, which are hingedtogether at the bottom and one section seated horizontally on the lowdrawer front and the other section tilted downward at the front end ofthe drawer.

3. In a show-case, the combination of vertical cross-walls provided withhorizontal traysupporting strips h, a drawer, G, having the top edges ofits front end and sides cut away lower than the said tray-strips, and ashallow detachable tray, I, resting upon the edge of said cut-awaydrawer front, a connecting device on the drawer to couple with the tray,as

described, and an operating wire or rod at tached to said connectingdevice and extending to the drawer back, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

FRANCIS X. GANTER.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. MORRIS, ROBERT L. CLEMMITT.

